Levi van Tine's Reviews
'Boston Lockdown' is an online Shadowrun game that manages to admirably translate the popular setting's quirky sci-fi/fantasy romance, but struggles with the online bit. The narrative is less of a strong glue holding everything together - it's more of a thin balm that can be more pervasive than entertaining. If you want to do some shadowrunning with some friends and don't mind the price point, it's not a bad entry in the franchise. If you're not into co-op, there are better options in the turn-based strategy genre.
MachineGames hasn't taken a huge step forward with 'Wolfenstein: The Old Blood,' but nor have they taken any steps backwards. It is a solid expansion, adding more to the new 'Wolfenstein' formula without drastically changing it. Fans of last year's game will find a lot to like, as will FPS players who somehow missed it.
'Not A Hero' is a tough, repetitive, and older-looking game, and it is also quite a bit of fun. The levels can get grating after attempting them for the dozenth or more try, especially because defeat can happen at any time (including right before a victory). But, the push to complete it perfectly, with a shorter time, or by completing more objectives, brings its own appeal. The campaign can be completed in just a few hours, but it's a worthwhile experience for fans of brutal, energetic indies.
'Chaos Theory' is the best episode so far in the 'Life is Strange' series, easily outpacing 'Out of Time' in narrative quality. The cliffhanger at the end makes me very excited for the next episode. So long as it continues to take risks, there is a lot of potential for the remaining episodes.
CD Projekt RED have addressed many of the complaints registered with previous entries, and leave me very little to criticize in 'The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt'. Gameplay, world design, and the story are big draws as the Witcher's world is as well realized and deep as anything going. This is an easy title to recommend to just about any gamer.
'House of Wolves' is a better attempt at post-release content than 'The Dark Below', although that particular achievement is of questionable difficulty. We get some fun new things that have the potential to hold our attention for awhile, at least. I wouldn't say it's worth $20, but if you've already purchased the season pass and have been neglecting 'Destiny', it might be worth your while to come back and take a peek.
'Sons of Winter' is another strong showing from Telltale and their take on the morbid, morally ambiguous 'Game of Thrones'. The writing, pacing, and production value are all top notch, it's just the engine holding them back now. This, in terms of the story, is probably the best so far in the season.
'Heroes of the Storm' is an easy MOBA to get into and stick with. I have been hooked since beta, and that is unusual because MOBAs typically do not appeal to me. While the prices are a bit high and the grinding a bit much, 'Heroes' is still something I will be playing for quite awhile.
The conversion from the smartphone to the Xbox is not perfect, but 'Badland: GOTY Edition' brings a decent, inexpensive, and fun platformer to the table. It is addictive in spite of its eccentric and sometimes maddening tics. While the single-player is the best part, the co-op is no slouch.
The indie platforming scene is thriving, and the 'Adventures of Pip' is another example of why that's happening. It tells a light and fluffy story but does it with panache, love, and great controls and mechanics. It's perfect for platform fans who want to take a trip down memory lane, or anyone who enjoys jumping on the heads of bad guys.
Double Fine has produced a good tactical strategy game with 'Massive Chalice'. It wears its inspirations on its sleeve, but also brings some of its own ideas to the table. It's not without its faults, but if you can look past those, you may find an engaging strategy experience.
I wish I had better things to say about 'Payday 2: Crimewave Edition'. On the surface it looks a lot like a less shiny 'Grand Theft Auto' with a heavy emphasis on co-op, but in the right circumstances it can be a fun experience. It has many of the common hallmarks of online games, right down to the leveling system, but there is just something about pulling off a slick bank job that is deeply satisfying. Still, until its broken multiplayer has been repaired, it's best to steer clear of this one.
I would not go so far as to say that 'Batman: Arkham Knight' is the best 'Arkham', but it's pretty close. The Batmobile is not without its flaws, and there are some mild complaints with the script and the side content, but this is still one of the best superhero games to date. Rocksteady's Batman swan song is a treat.
'Tales from the Borderlands: Catch a Ride' is one of the stronger episodes in the series in terms of writing and especially characterization. I find myself actually kind of liking these people, which is more than can be said for the often mute Vault Hunters of previous games (with the exception of Claptrap, who is rarely tongue-tied). I wish we could tone down the quick time events a bit, as they turn out to be more frustrating than fun, but Telltale is still doing a good job growing an interesting world with 'Tales from the Borderlands'.
'Tachyon Project' does stand out on its own from 'Geometry Wars', but its inspiration borders on the derivative. The cadence of the campaign poses a problem, what with the first three-quarters being a bit too easy and the last quarter being much too hard. The challenge mode also seems like a missed opportunity. 'Tachyon Project' is a competent shmup, but isn't much more than that.
Warner Brothers has promised three pieces of story content for the 'Arkham Knight' season pass. If this little fragment of a game is what players can expect, then the pricey $40 season pass is going to be a disappointment. 'A Matter of Family' releases on July 21st for non-season pass holders at $7, but I wouldn't recommend it.
'The Fall' is a great story and interesting discussion of synthetic morality, but ironically has some problems with its own mechanical side. It is possible that these issues were caused by the port to the Xbox One, but things like checkpoint saving are fundamental and cannot be overlooked. Regardless, I am happy that Over The Moon is continuing with the series, and hopefully we can expect the second episode before too long.
'No Time to Explain' has promising gameplay, and perhaps tinyBuild will be able to work it into something more manageable with future releases. As a precision platformer it struggles greatly on the Xbox One. It's not a bad game, and that just about sums it up.
'So Many Me' is a lovely addition to the growing stable of adept platformers on the Xbox One. It competently serves up many of the tropes of the genre while gently poking fun at them, and has its own crafty mechanics to keep things fresh. It's not overly difficult, but the puzzles grow more challenging as the game progresses. I'm glad it was able to get over its financial troubles and find a home on the One.
'A Nest of Vipers' is the best episode I have played in a Telltale game, passing even the amazing final episode of season two of 'The Walking Dead'. Despite its modest running time, it manages to set a new bar for the studio's storytelling. I always wait with anticipation for the next 'Game of Thrones', but now it's more serious than ever. If for some reason you have been putting off playing this series, now is as good a time as any to get involved.